Techniques for Student Engagement and Classroom Management in Large (and small) Classes

• To share a model for teaching large classes that (a) promotes student engagement and (b) minimizes faculty time spent on classroom management and grading Objectives The use of these teaching techniques provides students with opportunities to • Learn from one another through a group process • Manage their own learning experience • Fully participate in classroom activities • Remain on task despite large enrollments where students often “hide ” or deliberately engage in distracting behaviors The use of these teaching techniques provides teachers with opportunities to • Spend less time on classroom management • More fully engage with individual students • Do quick assessments of student performance and make on-the-spot corrections, if necessary • Monitor activity within groups, including academic learning and other issues related to group dynamics Rationale Some of our most important introductory courses are taught in very large classes with more than 100 students packed into an auditorium-style classroom. Teaching these classes can be challenging, especially when teaching assistants are not assigned to help with the course. Students in large classes often feel lost in the crowd, making it easy for them to skip class if roll is not taken, and taking roll is time consuming. Students also tend to be reluctant to ask questions or offer their opinions in front of so many other people. Classroom strategies used in smal